Embassy Music Industry Luncheon

Songwriters and artists recently gathered for an Embassy Music industry luncheon and workshop. A variety of both local and out of town performers shared original songs for the guests in attendance. Guests also enjoyed the opportunity to meet a veteran songwriter whose credits include a #1 country radio single with Grammy nominated artist Patty Loveless. Pictured from left to right are: Zach Swift, IV Elmendorf, Alex Renbarger, Dexter Quito, Ayla Brown, Brent Clifford, Vickie Bobbitt, and Darwin Moody.

Keith Urban Selects Embassy Alum

Embassy discovery Brandon Green was recently selected by Grammy Artist Keith Urban to join him on his current world tour. Pictured here in the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN are Brandon Green and Darwin Moody.

If you are a songwriter in Nashville, TN there is a great opportunity coming up for you to showcase your work. Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant is holding a open mic and songwriter contest. It is a nine week series, with 7 preliminary events, a semi-final, and a final. The Grand Prize Winner gets $500 from Puckett's Grocery and is part of a round at Puckett's Franklin with other well known professional songwriters. Prelim 1 begins on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 7:30 and will continue the following Tuesday's at the same time. No advance registration will be accepted. The registration for each preliminary events opens at 6:30 the day of each event. There is time for up to 24 songwriters at each event. Bring your acoustic guitar that has a direct line output or pickup. Each songwriter performs 1 original song that they wrote. The song must be original and never before published by a major publisher or cut by a major artist. There will be no performance tracks allowed. For more details click on the link below.

Click Here For More Info On Rising Star!

Cloverton

Embassy discovery Cloverton was recently signed to INO Records which is the home to artists such as MercyMe, Skillet, and others. INO Records has released Cloverton's single "Take Me Into the Beautiful"  internationally to Christian radio stations. Over the past few weeks their song has been climbing the Australian Contemporary Music Charts on the Rock Across the Australia Contemporary Top 30. In addition, Air1 has picked up their radio single and featured it on their blog. Meanwhile, Cloverton is currently on the road performing at venues in Kansas, Iowa,  Missouri, and Colorado.

To find out more information about Cloverton and their music check out their website at http://clovertonmusic.com/ 

Shawn Derritt

Shawn Derritt is an anointed Praise and Worship leader, speaker, author, song writer and internationally known Gospel recording artist. He has over 17 years of experience as a worship leader and has written over 80 songs. He is the author of two books, "Christ Inner Healing" and "Naked and Unashamed". He has released two CD's "Someone Like Me" and "Thank You". He recently sang as part of the opening act at the 2011 Stellar Awards and has an upcoming national radio single produced by a two-time Dove Awards winning producer. Shawn was in Nashville recently for the NRB convention. In addition, Shawn will be performing at a special showcase during the Dove Awards week in Atlanta next month.

 Embassy Music's New Year's Day Event

McAden Swaringen Grand Prize Winner 

The Ultimate Talent Search held on New Year's Day was a success! A&R, producers, managers, publicists, songwriters, and radio professionals in the music industry all gathered to serve on various panels, teach classes, and scout for new, emerging talent.

In the spirit of giving, Embassy Music offered this event free of charge. In exchange, attendees brought an overwhelming amount of non-perishable food items and a copy of their CD to donate to Belmont Church’s Isaiah 58 ministry. They feed over 600 hungry and needy people in downtown Nashville three nights a week.

Wally Nason opened the morning with his workshop on performance techniques. The audience was in constant laughter while learning the "dos and don'ts" of performing.

The event offered independent artists and songwriters the opportunity to audition and showcase their music in front of industry panelists as well as fellow artists and attendees. Some chose to sing with a track and others performed while playing their guitar or the piano. Everyone enjoyed listening to the performances!

David Ashley, a full-time indie artist, surprised the guests with a lunchtime concert. After lunch he joined the music industry panel where he and two other artists shared their journey of hard work and perseverance in becoming successful artists. 

During "framing the artist" a few lucky attendees were chosen to sing a song of their choice. They received individual feedback and helpful tips for them as a performer and artist.

In the next class, participants learned how to be successful songwriters in a workshop taught by Darwin Moody. They also heard from industry professionals in marketing, radio, and graphic design.

One of the built in perks of the conference was the networking available for the attendees. Many who came socialized with each other as well as industry professionals during the lunch hour and break times. Many phone numbers were exchanged and future meetings arranged! 

Participants were given a bonus opportunity to meet one-on-one with an A&R representative to discuss their next step and future as an artist or songwriter. These 30 minute meetings offered valuable insight and feedback. This turned out to be one of the highlights of the event!    

The day concluded with a showcase at the Listening Room in downtown Nashville. The audience enjoyed their dinner while listening to special performances by Embassy artists, Rebecca Bearden and Shawn Derritt. In addition, finalists were chosen from the auditions earlier that day to perform at the grand finale showcase. After the finalists performed, songwriter Jonathan Saylor and artist McAden Swaringen were announced the winners! McAden won a recording session with a two-time Dove Award winning producer!  

 INDIEHEAVEN PRESENTS........

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Amy Berna releases new single 

'Hold On'

Read below for the story behind this encouraging song.

The Story of 'Hold On'

Hold On

I was in such a state of disappointment in my life, with so many unfulfilled dreams and desires.  With no change in sight I found myself at the piano once again trying to play, but no melody seemed to come.  In frustration, these words flowed from the depths of my heart, "when my melody is gone, and there's no words to sing my song".  

I was having a pity party and honestly didn't want to invite anyone.

I struggled to write more to this song but no matter how hard I tried the words just wouldn't come.  One night at church, a guest minister was finishing up his message when he invited me to the piano to play a closing song.  As I approached the piano he stopped me and said, "Amy, play that song!"  That song?  What song?  "That song" could have been any one of the billion songs we worship leaders keep in our mental catalog for any given moment.  I stopped and looked at his face.  He said, "You know, that song that you play when you're all alone and you feel all hope is gone."  Immediately I knew what song he was talking about.  My pity party song!

I had almost reached the piano when he looked at me once more and said, "and by the way Amy, God says 'Hold on, you're gonna make it!"  Those words came upon me like a strong fresh wind.  It was such a lifeline thrown to me at a time when I felt such a pull to throw in the towel.  I went home that night and the whole focus had somehow changed.  It was no longer my pity party.  I was suddenly aware of others that may have been feeling just like I was.  Deep within me I knew that I wouldn't give up but I was very aware of the fact that I was so weighed down with frustration.  Too many times we make decisions in that state, in the darkness of midnight when hope comes in waiting upon God, joy comes in the morning.  That night the Lord gave me the rest of the song which is now known as "Hold On".  

The Nashville Flood

Embassy Music's staff is grateful to be safe and dry during this tragic time in Nashville, TN. Thank you so much for all of your caring calls, emails and thoughts of concern as well as your continued prayers. Unfortunately, not everyone in the Middle Tennessee area was as fortunate. Many people lost their homes and businesses and many Nashville landmarks were ruined- including the Opryland Resort where we have hosted so many of our seminars and showcases throughout the years.  

CLOVERTON ROCKS THE CAMP!!

Nashville, TN -- New Christian Music recording artists Cloverton seriously  “Rocked the Camp!”  The group was selected as the grand prize winner for Toby Mac’s Rock the Camp contest.  They will open for mega Christian artist Toby Mac, record with Grammy and Dove award winner Paul Ebersold and perform on the K Love Christian Family Cruise during the month of February.

Camp Electric, based out of Nashville, and its partners, teach young musicians the ropes in the Christian Music Industry.  The Rock the Camp competition is held over a period of months and fans send in votes for their favorite new artist.  A panel of industry experts votes on the final five performers/bands left at the end of the vote.

“This is an amazing opportunity for us and gives us such great exposure!  A HUGE thank you goes out to all of you who helped us make it to the final round by voting for us daily, “said Lance Stafford, lead singer for the band.  “We are so excited to see what unfolds in the next few months. In the meantime, we'll be fine-tuning our songs to open for Toby Mac in July, and updating our passports for the K-Love cruise in February!  Glory to Him! “

Always there to help in the community, Cloverton has been busy promoting their new music and helping to revive Haiti relief awareness.  Cloverton has mounted its own campaign for Haitian earthquake victims. The centerpiece of the campaign, dubbed “Hope Inside for Haiti” and inspired by Cloverton’s nationally aired single “Hope Inside,” consists of a free download of the single for fans who make a donation to World Vision.  To check out their music and make a donation click onto myspace.com/cloverton.

Based out of “The Little Apple,” in Manhattan, KS, Cloverton received their break in early 2008 when Lance took top honors at Embassy Music’s Ultimate Talent Search; the same event that has launched numerous artists including Dove & Grammy nominated, Leeland. The band’s central theme is simple: pointing people to a right relationship with God.

Embassy's Latest Ultimate Talent Search 

Our most recent UTS Artist and Songwriter conference was held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort this past February 27^th, 2010 with a showcase performance held at the Red Rooster in Nashville, TN.  The talented artists and songwriters who attended the weekend long event flew in from all across the nation hailing from states such as Oregon and Florida. Our event this year was focused around the relief effort for Haiti. Partnering with World Vision, Embassy Music made this February conference a Haitian relief benefit. Donations were made by the generous singers and songwriters to help World Vision and their efforts to assist Haiti and its people during this time of crisis.

The conference began with workshops covering all aspects of the music industry, including performance, songwriting, radio, management and A&R. In between classes attendees auditioned for industry professionals and finalists performed later that night at the Embassy showcase. From the 60 artist and songwriters who attended the conference, Stephanie Moore and Joshua Eric Wright won for best songwriter and best artist, respectively.

Embassy is looking forward to putting on more conferences in the upcoming year, and hopes to continue helping artists and songwriters hone their craft and learn about the music industry.

Embassy Music's Ultimate Talent Search judges and winners from left to right: Wally Nason, Julie Branham, Stephanie Moore and husband Ryan (Songwriter Winner), Joshua Eric Wright (Artist Winner), Darwin Moody.